SpudFiles

My camera is decent, Canon powershot a550 7.1megapixel, but for some reason I can't get good quality closeups, is there a setting I need to put it on?

i think that would be because the camera is trying to focus on the background, try to take a picture with the sinker on a table or something with a less complex texture.

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Hold down the button slightly until you get a beeping sound, or a green light, or whatever you camera does. And make sure that you don't have the camera on scenery mode. If it has an auto whitebalance function (wb) make sure that you set the white balance. And, even better, if there is a mode that allows you to change shutter speed, speed it up a bit. Also, make sure the cam is focused on the foreground, ie the lead ball. When it is focusing make sure the ball is a crystal clear image, and the background is slightly fuzzy. If you had my camera, I could tell you exactly what is happening, but I don't, so I can only give you generic advice.

ammosmoke

Edit: Well, I just experimented with my camera a bit, (Sony Cybershot DSC P-200) and I think that you are holding it too close to the lens. It is simply out of the range that it can focus. You need to hold it at about arm's length and zoom in. Also, having the light at your back helps, as long as the light isn't insanely bright or blocked by your body. I think that will solve your problem for sure.

dewey was right, macro function would be your best option.

Well, here are my experimentation pics.



This is with the light coming towards me, and my hand too close.



This is with my hand farther away, the light at my back, and zoomed in.


I think I have solved your problem. Let me know if it works.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contr ... elid=14824

Search for macro and then click on the first result.

Ok well i'm back with decent pictures this time, I couldn't be bothered reading the manual so I went with ammosmokes approach.

Sweet

Yay it worked! Looks cool!